The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of Sister Blodwyn Elizabeth Williams, Australian Army Nursing Service, First World War.

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Sharon Bown, the story for this day was on Sister Blodwyn Elizabeth Williams, Australian Army Nursing Service, First World War.

Sister Blodwyn Elizabeth Williams, Australian Army Nursing Service
Date of Death 24 May 1920
Story delivered 20 November 2018

Today we remember and pay tribute to Sister Blodwyn Elizabeth Williams.

Born in Ballarat in Victoria, Blodwyn Williams was the daughter of Elizabeth and Theophilus Williams. Her father was a well-respected member of the community who had come to Australia from England during the gold rush, and served three times as the Mayor of Ballarat.

Known in her family by the nickname “Billie”, Blodwyn trained as a nurse at the Ballarat District Hospital, and for a time held the position of sister in charge. She was still working there when the First World War began.

Williams enlisted in the AIF’s Australian Army Nursing Service in June 1915, at the age of 33. More than 3,000 Australian civilian nurses volunteered for active service during the First World War. They were posted to Britain, France, Belgium, the Mediterranean, India and the Middle East, where they worked in hospitals, on hospital ships and trains, or in casualty clearing stations closer to the front line.
Williams left for overseas service just weeks after enlisting. She was posted to the No. 2 Australian General Hospital, located in the Ghezireh Palace in Cairo, nursing Australians and New Zealanders who had been wounded while fighting on Gallipoli.

Williams was not in Cairo for long. In September, she was assigned nursing duty on board a hospital ship to England. One there, she became attached to the 3rd London General hospital, where she served until November 1916. Following that, she was transferred to another military hospital in England, where she nursed until January 1918.

Williams was then sent to France to continue her duties. She was promoted from staff nurse to sister in early October 1918, a month before the war ended. However, her service continued well beyond the armistice. She returned to England to care for sick and wounded men in December, and worked solidly until April 1919 when she was given some leave.

The rigours of nursing throughout the war took their toll on Williams’ health. In August 1919 she was admitted to hospital and had an operation for an abdominal growth.

While her condition improved enough for her to return to Australia the following month, her condition worsened.
On 24 May 1920 she died at Caulfield Military Hospital of a carcinoma in her right lung, and heart failure.

The Ballarat Star reported on Sister Williams’ funeral, which was well attended by family, friends and returned soldiers. Her casket was draped with the Union Jack and the Last Post was played. The report read: “Sister Williams had served her King, country and Empire for nearly five years during which she made many friends by her untiring efforts and devotion to duty to our soldier boys under the most trying circumstances and unpleasant conditions.”

Her name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, among more than 60,000 Australians who died while serving in the First World War.

This is but one of the many stories of service and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Sister Blodwyn Williams, who gave her life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Emma Campbell
Researcher, Military History Section